“We have increased our vigilance with parents and visitors to our schools,” Harper said. “We ID everyone. We have a teacher aide or security guard at every door of each school, and that’s the case after school as well. Doors are guarded during after-school school activities, and we have cars patrolling around the school between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturdays for activities held that day.”

Harper said that there are also districtwide safety meetings for students’ parents and other residents. “We have the Nassau County Police Department, Nassau BOCES, parents and administration [at the meetings] as well,” he said.

Security in the Sewanhaka Central High School District — Elmont Memorial, H. Frank Carey, Sewanhaka, Floral Park Memorial and New Hyde Park Memorial schools — has also been updated. Superintendent Dr. Ralph Ferrie said that every door of every school either remains locked or is monitored by a security guard, and that there are plans for additional security cameras. Those cameras, Ferrie said, were critical components of the $99.5 million bond proposal that was defeated on Dec. 4, but, he added, district officials would continue exploring ways to add those cameras.

“The district is in the process of making every attempt to increase the number or surveillance cameras at each of the buildings,” Ferrie said. “In addition, each school located a security station at one entrance in order to monitor visitors while also monitoring the cameras. Additional security cameras were included in the proposed referendum. As a result of the outcome, other potential ways to finance this equipment will be continually explored in the future.”

Comments

While I realize the school district is "proud" of its increased security, the reality of it is that this is nothing to be "proud" of. In fact, it's something to be ashamed of. When we have to put increased security into our schools for fear of violence, it makes a greater statement about our diseased society than it does about the school's efficiency to ward of a potential disaster. And please make no mistake, I am not talking about more 2nd Amendment restrictions. What I'm talking about is our failing social and cultural structure that has created a youth to whom "shooting up" people seems to be de rigueur. Unfortunately, we have no alternative but to heighten school security and even entertain the idea of armed guards in our schools, due to the pervasive "sickness" that continues to surround today's youth. Twisted posts all over "Facebook," "Instagram," and various other venues destroys innocence and childhood.